Lump Scares = Mastectomy?

coug90
coug90 Member Posts: 59
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Well as we all know after having invasive breast cancer we get to have those LOVELY check ups every three months for three years. At my checkups, it seems like they keep having 'lump scares' - one leading to an aspiration and several leading to followups as well as your hurry up and wait 'we'll see what happens' plan of action. So I've begun to wonder... what is the tipping scale for deciding on a mastectomy? I mean, for those of you who decided to go this route where the decision wasn't 'made for you', what was the turning point for you? I know it's not a decision to be made lightly - it is after all an amputation. I'm relatively young - 39 - and completely vain (shallow? lol). So I'd appreciate your point of view on this one.

And after having a mastectomy... well I've seen the pictures. What's the real deal? Does it look normal after reconstruction? Would you go man made saline, or the organic 'flap' route? Do you ever get feeling back? I know with my lumpectomy it's always sore. Would my 'breast' be sore for the rest of my life?

Thanks for any enlightenment...

Curious George... aka Coug90!

Comments

  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #2
    For me, I knew to take the whole thing off. It was so sad, I really loved my little guy but it had to go. The surgeon tried talking me into a lumpectomy but it didn't make much sense to me. Besides I didn't want to do radiation. I am glad I did it as the margin was 1mm from the chest wall. I had a feeling that if I didn't take the whole thing off it would come back. As it is they scrape the chest wall, so I'm hoping there was nothing that had escaped.

    I am 54 and it still bothers me seeing people with both breasts. Maybe a low cut top. It bothers me in the sense of feeling sad but I don't stay there too long. I don't think you are vain, we all would like to feel good about ourselves....or at least normal. But now we need to redefine normal.

    I didn't have reconstruction at the time of surgery. I may yet, I don't know. My surgical site can be sore at times. It's like it flares up once in a while and it is still numb. I had it done july06.

    That's about all I can help you with, good luck on your decision making.
    jan
  • jackiemanz
    jackiemanz Member Posts: 85
    #3
    Well Coug90. I was just 40 when all this happened to me. I was not given the chose of having a lumptectomy they told me with LCIS I needed to have a bilateral cause if I only took one off it is most likely within a year it could reappear in the other one.

    Like you I was alittle vain. I didn't want the fake stuff in me I wanted to use my on body fat but at that time I was to skinny. When this started I was 36b and the plastic surgeon said if I decided to use my on body the best he could do was make me a A cup. Well I didn't want to go down a size so I ended up using the silcone gel and ended up going to a 38C. I'm satisfied with them I fill out my tops alot better. I do have feeling on the left side but have alittle numbness on the right still. I'm keeping my finger's cross that more feeling comes back.

    Now there is one thing that I don't like about them. Because of having LCIS when they did the mastectomy they had to take my nipples also. When they recreated them they were placed alittle off center so I always wear a bra or a wear a shirt that has a builtin. Other than that I'm happy with them.

    Hope this helps you out alittle.

    Jackie
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #4
    Aw, sweetheart...I'm putting my arms around you...

    As you know, I 'just' had a lumpectomy, and have (so far) been blessed with no reoccurance. So, I can't speak from experience...But I CAN say...

    I think it has to do with where you are with your life. My mom, and girlfriend, had mastectomies. Both could have done lumpectomies, but just wanted to reduce the risk further. My friend was tired of living in the shadow of cancer, having had it before. She ended up not being able to tollerate the reconstruction, but is still, to this day, happy with her decision.

    You are NOT shallow, you just like what you look like....that's a gift in itself, many people don't! If the need arose, you are a person that would like you even without a breast, I am CERTAIN!!!

    Hugs, Kathi

    PS....it just SNOWED here...just for a few minutes, but it SNOWED!!!!! My candles WORKED...lol!!!!
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #5
    I have had a bilateral mastectomy. The left side was my choice to limit the chances of recurrence. I have considered reconstruction options and have been talking to my plastic surgeon. I think the results of the reconstruction are an individual thing, depending on the surgeon's skill and what you want. I want to use my own tissue, though recovery time is longer, because the implants have to be replaced eventually. I am hoping to be able to do the DIEP flap procedure. It uses tissue from the abdomen, but less than the TRAM procedure, so recovery is faster and there is less weakness in the abdomen afterward. I would say talk to plastic surgeons and look on the MD.Anderson or Mayo Clinic websites for information about reconstruction options. Ask your plastic surgeon for phone numbers of patients who do not mind being called, or contact your local ACS to see if there are survivors you can talk to.

    I wish you well, seof
  • survivor51
    survivor51 Member Posts: 276
    #6
    Coug,
    I had a bilateral mastectomy and was very worried. I've been married for 30 years and had a great time with intamacy with my husband. I like my breast, the size, the feel, and the way my husband enjoyed my body. I was totally scared but with cancer in both sides, there really was much of a choice. I wondered how I would look and how I would feel. I was proud of my womanly body...would like to get weight off my hips but very please with my breast. I had the bilateral and reconstruction with the flap. They were flat, had taken muscle from my back, two areas that look like large cats eyes in the middle of the flat chest. With the muscle from my back they put "extender" in to stretch the muscle. It was use to being in the back and flat. Each week I went and was injected with so much saline until I was the size I was before..(800cc). It took 8 weeks. I didn't feel the injections because I was numb but did feel a tightness for about a day. After chemo, they took the extenders out, replaced them with silicone implants and changed the cat's eye (skin used from my back) to 2 circular places like the size of a half dollar. They went underneath the breast to do this so no cutting the top of skin. I have not done the nipple part which they will use the half dollar circles to for a nipple so right now it is flat with the skin the same color as the skin everywhere else on my body. As I look in the mirror, other than the "no nipple" space about the size of a half dollar, my breast show no signs of reconstruction. If you were to look at me naked, you would not know I had reconstruction. I still don't have feeling in either breast but do between them and a little on the top section. As to the feel, I feel them and they feel like a regular breast. My husband reached around in the shower and said "Honey, if I didn't know better, you breast feel just like you" I am very proud of them and looking down when I shower, I am thrilled and blessed how much the surgery has improved over the years. For me, I love the results and the feel. Angela
  • newboobs
    newboobs Member Posts: 121
    #7
    Well Coug I could've shown you mine last month LOL. My dr. recommended a mastect after my lumpectomy. I got a saline implant and it's pretty good. I had a reduction/lift on the other side at the same time. I still have most of the numbness, but no more droopy boobs. So, do what you need to do to live and enjoy that awesome little boy of yours!!

    HUGS!!
  • coug90
    coug90 Member Posts: 59
    #8
    Thanks for all your words of encouragement girls. I still have time before (IF) I have to make THE decision. It's just something that has been creeping around the corners of my mind. :)

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